Paychex Inc. (PAYX): Today's Featured Diversified Services Winner

Paychex (PAYX) pushed the Diversified Services industry higher today making it today's featured diversified services winner. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.7%. By the end of trading, Paychex rose 35 cents (1.1%) to $31.01 on average volume. Throughout the day, 2.1 million shares of Paychex exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 2.6 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $30.57-$31.06 after having opened the day at $30.69 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $30.66. Other companies within the Diversified Services industry that increased today were: China HGS Real Estate (HGSH), up 14%, Document Security Systems (DSS), up 13.3%, InnerWorkings (INWK), up 12%, and Cambium Learning Group (ABCD), up 10.3%.

Paychex, Inc. provides payroll, human resource, and benefits outsourcing solutions for small to medium sized businesses. Paychex has a market cap of $11.01 billion and is part of the services sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 20.2, equal to the average diversified services industry P/E ratio and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 2% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are four analysts that rate Paychex a buy, three analysts rate it a sell, and 15 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Paychex as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, expanding profit margins, good cash flow from operations, growth in earnings per share and increase in net income. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself.

• You can view the full Paychex Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Spar Group (SGRP), down 11.5%, China Yida (CNYD), down 11%, Rainmaker Systems (RMKR), down 7.5%, and ATA (ATAI), down 7.4%, were all losers within the diversified services industry with Mercadolibre (MELI) being today's diversified services industry loser.

• Use our diversified services section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the diversified services industry could consider iShares Dow Jones US Cons Services (IYC) while those bearish on the diversified services industry could consider ProShares Ultra Short Consumer Sers (SCC).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

For more information on Paychex Inc. click any of the following:

• Paychex Inc. Stock Price

• Paychex Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Paychex Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Paychex Inc. Earnings

• Paychex Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Paychex Inc. Growth Rates

• Paychex Inc. Balance Sheet

• Paychex Inc. Cash Flow

• Paychex Inc. Income Statement